Paleo Diet Food List

Below you'll find a list of common Paleo-approved foods by category. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, but instead aims to cover the most popular food items available in grocery stores today.

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Meat

Beef, pork, lamb, veal, rabbit, goat, sheep, bison, wild boar.

Game meat

Deer, pheasant, bear, moose, woodcock, elk, duck, rabbit, reindeer, wild turkey.

Poultry

Chicken, turkey, duck, quail, goose.

Fish

Salmon, tuna, trout, bass, halibut, sole, haddock, turbot, walleye, tilapia, cod, flatfish, grouper, mackerel, anchovy, herring, catfish.

Shellfish

Crab, lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, oysters, mussels.

Fats

Avocados, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, butter, clarified butter (ghee), lard, tallow, duck fat, veal fat, lamb fat, fatty fishes (sardines, mackerel, salmon), nut butters, nut oils (walnut, macadamia), coconut flesh, coconut milk.

Eggs

Chicken eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, quail eggs.

Vegetables

Celery, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, leeks, kohlrabi, green onions, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, cucumber, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, okra, avocados.

Green leafy vegetables

Lettuce, spinach, collard greens, kale, beet top, mustard greens, dandelion, swiss chard, watercress, turnip greens, seaweeds, endive, arugula (rocket), bok choy, rapini, chicory, radicchio.

Root vegetables

Carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, radish, jerusalem artichokes, yams, cassava.

Winter squash

Butternut squash, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, pumpkin, buttercup squash.

Summer squash

Zucchini, yellow summer squash, yellow crookneck squash.

Fruits

Bananas, apples, oranges, berries (strawberry, cranberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry), plantains, grapefruit, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, pomegranates, pineapple, papaya, grapes, cantaloupe, cherries, apricot, watermelon, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemon, lime, lychee, mango, tangerine, coconut, figs, dates, olives, passion fruit, persimmon.

Nuts and seeds

Pistachios, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, chestnuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts.

Mushrooms

Button mushroom, portabello, oyster mushroom, shiitake, chanterelle, crimini, porcini, morel.

Fresh and dried herbs

Parsley, thyme, lavender, mint, basil, rosemary, chives, tarragon, oregano, sage, dill, bay leaves, coriander.

Spices and others

Ginger, garlic, onions, black pepper, hot peppers, star anise, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, cayenne pepper, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, vanilla, cloves, chilies, horseradish.

Is it Paleo?

The following articles cover foods that often raise questions: honey, maple syrup, potatoes, tea, butter, dairy, vinegar, cured meat, sausages, chocolate, coffee and alcohol.

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Foods to avoid

Here's a list of foods that should generally be avoided on Paleo, by category.

Grains

Wheat, Corn, barley, rye, oats, brown rice, millet, spelt, bulgur, couscous,...

Legumes

Soy beans, lentils, pinto beans, red beans, peanuts, chickpeas, kidney beans,...

Added Sugar

Sodas, baked goods, pastries, fruit juices, cane juice, cane sugar, high-fructore corn syrup, agave, aspartame...

Vegetable seed oils

Soybean oil, peanut oil, corn oil, canola oil, margarine, sunflower oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil,...

Processed foods

Most foods that have ingredients that don't seem to come directly from nature. This will include most commertialy packaged foods.

Dairy

Milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream...

Note that some people still like include forms of dairy like cheese, heavy cream and/or yogurt into a healthy Paleo diet template. In other words, dairy falls into a gray-area. While a lot of people do better without dairy products at all, others tolerate them perfectly well. You can read more about dairy and Paleo here.

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Additional food lists

You can consult our FODMAPs food list for a list of foods to avoid if you're trying to limit the amount of FODMAPs in your diet. Not sure what FODMAPs are? Have a look at our introduction here.